Ralph Aldis joined U.S. Global Investors in 2001; he is the portfolio manager for World Precious Minerals Fund (UNWPX) and the Gold and Precious Metals Fund (USERX) and a contributing editor to US Global's Investor Alert.

Precious metals stocks have been on fire over the last few months, and you don't have to dig deep to know why. Essentially, investments like gold and silver represent safe-haven assets during times of uncertainty or turmoil. With the raging U.S.-China trade war, along with multiple geopolitical flashpoints, there's plenty of both descriptors to go around.Primarily, one of the biggest catalysts for precious metals stocks to buy is the inversion of the yield curve. Specifically, the yield for the longer-maturing 10-year Treasuries dipped below the yield of the shorter-maturing 2-year Treasuries. Therefore, what we have is a nonsensical economic condition: a riskier (based on time exposure) asset offers less reward than a more stable or predictable one.That kind of circumstance invites investor fears, which is bullish for precious metals stocks to buy. However, what could really send this commodities sub-segment to the moon is the Federal Reserve's response.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsNaturally, the central bankers don't want this circumstance to continue; otherwise, no one in their right minds would buy 10-year Treasuries. First on the Fed's agenda is to flatten the yield curve. And at this point, that can only be accomplished by cutting benchmark interest rates further. Theoretically, this should drive down the 2-year Treasures' yield below the 10-year bonds. * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow But will this work? I'm not a central banker so I'm not an expert on this topic. But what I do know is that such actions are inflationary. And based on the present fiscal and economic circumstances, this is the only lever the Fed can pull.In layman's terms, gold and similar commodities will moon. Thus, here are eight precious metal stocks to consider. Barrick Gold (GOLD)Source: Shutterstock Precious metal stocks such as Barrick Gold (NYSE:GOLD) have certain risks that the underlying physical bullion markets do not; namely, the human element. Therefore, it pays when loading up on commodities-based stocks to buy to consider a heavier allocation toward established, stable names. With a long history and a market capitalization nearing $34 billion, GOLD stock certainly qualifies.Aside from its sheer size, what I like about Barrick is its quality of international exposure. Although geopolitical risks in their African projects exist, for the most part, the mining company is exposed to stable administrations. We're talking names like Canada, Chile, Australia, and the U.S.Plus, GOLD stock is bringing home the goods for stakeholders. On a year-to-date basis, shares have jumped over 46%. And since the beginning of June, they're up 51%.Ordinarily, I'd avoid such technically hot assets. However, GOLD stock is likely riding on unprecedented series of fundamental tailwinds. Newmont Goldcorp (NEM)Source: Piotr Swat/Shutterstock Many investors understandably avoid precious metals stocks because of the reputation of speculative mining projects. But like any sector, it's the quality of the individual company that matters. And with Newmont Goldcorp (NYSE:NEM), you have the provenance of nearly a century of experience. Thus, even if we see the return of a bear market in the metals, NEM stock will probably stick around.But I'm almost certain that such pessimism is far out into the future. For the near-to-intermediate term, Newmont Goldcorp should attract significant investor dollars. On a YTD basis, NEM stock has gained over 16%. That may not sound like much until you consider that since the beginning of May, shares have jumped nearly 35%. * The 8 Worst Stocks to Buy Before the Trade Turmoil Cools Off Moving forward, I see strong gains ahead despite the already impressive performance. The majority of Newmont Goldcorp's projects are located in the stable regions of North America and Australia. Four projects are in South America, while only two are levered to Africa. Therefore, even if geopolitics rears its ugly head, NEM stock should find significant insulation. Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM)Another top name to add to your list of precious metals stocks to buy is Agnico Eagles Mines (NYSE:AEM). While some of the top-tier miners have some exposure to geopolitical risks, AEM stock is arguably almost completely insulated. I say this because Agnico Eagles has mining projects only in Canada, Finland, and Mexico. None of these countries strike me as dangerously unstable.But what really stands out about AEM stock is that the underlying company does not engage in forward gold sales. Forward sales are commonly used in sectors like commodities to help businesses predictably flatten the target assets' volatility. However, with Agnico Eagle, the eschewing of forward gold sales is a long-standing policy. Thus, buying AEM stock gives you full exposure to the gold spot price.In prior years, that was a raw deal. But at this juncture, this is exactly what you want. Already, the gold price has shot up over $1,550. Just a couple months ago, it was under $1,300. And with nothing indicating a headwind to this run, AEM stock gives you cheap exposure to the yellow metal. Royal Gold (RGLD)Although it's an incredibly hot name right now, Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) is an interesting play. And in my opinion, RGLD stock still has significant upside remaining.Most precious metals stocks to buy in the mining sector are risky because of the unknown. This is especially true for companies specializing in gold exploration: sometimes you hit pay dirt, and sometimes you don't. Because of the unpredictability involved, these investments can be incredibly volatile. But with RGLD stock, the underlying company mitigates the wildness through its streaming business model.Instead of actively mining for metals, Royal Gold instead has streaming and royalty agreements with miners. Typically, a company like Royal Gold will pay an upfront fee in exchange for future deliveries of a particular asset. * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income Because of this inherent risk mitigation, RGLD stock has outperformed many other physical mining-centric organizations. For instance, on a YTD basis, RGLD shares have skyrocketed nearly 61%. With bullion markets likely headed higher, Royal Gold might still be a bargain. Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM)If you're looking to precious metals stocks for protection in the markets, it's natural to only focus on gold. However, as my sit-down with commodities expert David Morgan illustrates, silver has tremendous potential right now. As proof, since my interview with the godfather of silver investing, the target metal has shot up over 18%.Of course, the silver spot price is more volatile than gold. But if you want exposure to this exciting metal but with some risk mitigation, consider Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM). Formerly known as Silver Wheaton, WPM stock is no longer just a pure-play silver equity. However, the company still enjoys one of the biggest silver streaming businesses in the world.As I mentioned above for Royal Gold, WPM stock is intriguing for this streaming model. Unlike every other mining outfit, Wheaton doesn't have the associated onerous overhead costs. Management knows what their outlays are because they are negotiated ahead of time. That's a huge plus for WPM stock because pure miners operate under a cloud of uncertainty. First Majestic Silver (AG)Source: Shutterstock In my view, silver is the cryptocurrency of precious metals stocks to buy. Although it has the same monetary fundamentals as gold - silver was at one point "real money" - it also seems to have a mind of its own. Nevertheless, for me, the outsized potential for silver is enough to accept the risks. If you have a similar mindset, you should take a look at First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG) and AG stock.For starters, First Majestic Silver lives up to the hype of precious metals stocks levered to the white metal. Since January's opening price, AG stock has soared over 91%. And since the beginning of August, First Majestic shares have popped up over 14%.As I've mentioned with the other sector players, I don't like to engage such strong momentum. But I keep going back to the Federal Reserve's inability to do anything but cut interest rates. That's inflationary for gold and should be exponentially so for silver. * 7 Stocks to Buy Down 10% in the Past Week Finally, on a fundamental note, First Majestic primarily focuses on Mexico's mining market. Close to home and a vital U.S. trading partner, I don't foresee major problems there. Therefore, AG stock also provides some measure of geopolitical insulation. Sibanye Gold (SBGL)Source: Money Metals via FlickrSibanye Gold (NYSE:SBGL) has significant operations in South Africa, which is both a blessing and a curse. Obviously, South Africa is exceptionally endowed with natural resources, including multiple robust gold mines. That naturally bodes well for SBGL stock. But on the flipside, the country's class and race dynamics have caused substantial conflicts, including mining-related labor strikes.Recently, such strikes over job losses and pay cuts have negatively impacted Sibanye Gold. As a result, SBGL stock hasn't seen the explosive returns that other precious metals stocks have witnessed over the past few weeks. Nevertheless, Sibanye has serious potential, as judged by its explosive YTD return of over 110%.Now, you might say that among this sector's stocks to buy, superior options exist. However, very few companies have the kind of robust exposure to the other precious metals, platinum and palladium. In particular, palladium is an incredibly rare commodity and Sibanye is the world's second-largest producer of it. Thus, I like my chances with SBGL stock. Norilsk Nickel PJSC (NILSY)Source: Shutterstock I'm going to be completely blunt: Norilsk Nickel PJSC (OTCMKTS:NILSY) is a ridiculously speculative name among precious metals stocks. Therefore, I wouldn't buy NILSY stock unless you fully understand that you're taking a gamble. Even then, I wouldn't allocate all of my "stupid" money on Norilsk.With these caveats out of the way, I'm still very intrigued with the potential upside opportunity in NILSY stock. Russia has the largest stockpile of palladium in the world. As such, Norilsk Nickel is the world's top producer of this rare commodity.Why am I so big on palladium? First, it's incredibly rare. Up until recently, one troy ounce of palladium was worth more than the equivalent size of gold. And while the yellow metal is on a run due to global economic fears, palladium still has a chance to regain its crown.That brings me to my second point: palladium has multiple uses and should be a relevant commodity in the 21st century. The metal is both resilient to atmospheric influences and is extremely ductile. These properties lend themselves to high-tech usage, which is why I'm even considering NILSY stock.As of this writing, Josh Enomoto is long the physical precious metals mentioned in this story. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow * The 10 Biggest Winners From Second-Quarter Earnings * 7 Marijuana Penny Stocks to Consider for Those Who Can Handle Risk The post 8 Precious Metals Stocks to Mine For appeared first on InvestorPlace.

It's been said there's always a bull market somewhere. But if you want to catch this type of trend as its emerging on the price chart, there may be no better spot than in silver. And the smarter way to capitalize on this cycle is buying leadership in silver stocks Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM), Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) and First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG).Silver has earned a reputation as the proverbial ugly sister of gold. And in recent years that label has been rightfully earned. Performance wise, the iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:GLD) recently broke above its key 2016 high. At the same time, the iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV) is about 23% below that year's high-water mark.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsThe under-performance doesn't stop there either. Right now GLD stock is also roughly 27% from its high in 2011 which immediately preceded a lengthy bear market for the precious metal. On the other hand, silver is off by 70%. And unlike gold, silver is still in the grips of this menacing force. * The 10 Best Stocks to Invest in for August Markets do however rotate through both bull and bear cycles. Some may take their time, but it's a universal truth. What's more, those winds of change are blowing for silver stocks following May's higher low pattern in the commodity and this month's breakout of downtrend resistance dating back to the 2016. And that's even better news for market-leading silver stocks WPM, PAAS and AG stock.But to position more smartly, it's time to locate entry points in these silver stocks which offer bullish exposure with less risk and stronger upside potential. Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) Click to EnlargeWheaton Precious Metals is the first of our silver stocks to buy. WPM stock has displayed relative strength during all of 2019 and there's little reason to think this trend won't continue. After breaking out and subsequently successfully testing downtrend resistance dating back to 2016, WPM has continued to rally strongly to fresh relative highs.The provided weekly view of this silver stock does a good job of displaying WPM's technical wherewithal. However, a candle topping pattern and overbought situation suggests a pullback is likely and hence, buying into weakness is the strategy of choice.Put WPM stock on the radar for a pullback entry. Ideally, a decline in price will result in this silver stock moving into the area from $23 - $24.50 which has multiple layers of Fibonacci and trendline support. A price drop of this size should also neutralize today's overbought condition. I'd suggest using a confirmed weekly low in shares for exiting and taking initial profits as shares rally to challenge 2016's high. Pan American Silver (PAAS) Click to EnlargePan American is the second of our silver stocks. Unlike WPM, shares haven't broken out above trendline resistance. But PAAS stock is interesting as it displayed relative strength back in 2017 by challenging 2016's ubiquitous high when other silver stocks were sinking.Since that period of outperformance PAAS has put together a downward sloping channel. Shares are now stationed up against resistance. However, they've also broken above the 50% retracement level from the 2017 high. Given a bit of additional consolidation work and maybe a chance for its own overbought conditions to be worked off, this silver stock looks good to stage a meaningful breakout. * 6 Upcoming IPOs for August Buy this silver stock on a breakout. Maybe PAAS's overbought conditions will ease before a trigger, but sometimes overbought conditions beget more of the same. This looks like one of those situations. I'd recommend using the consolidation low or up to 10% for a stop-loss to contain downside exposure. On the upside, a challenge of PAAS stock's 2016 and 2017 highs near $21 for taking partial profits is suggested. First Majestic Sliver (AG) Click to EnlargeFirst Majestic Silver is the last of our silver stocks. In 2016, AG stock showed amazing technical leadership as shares blasted higher by nearly six-fold before crashing lower with silver and most other industry players. With AG stock I'm looking for a return of price momentum in 2019's second half.Currently shares of AG are testing the 2017 high which is aligned with the 38% retracement level from 2016's cycle peak. Similar to PAAS, I'm not expecting a deeper pullback pattern to emerge. It could happen, but for now I'd put this silver stock on the radar for purchase above the high formed last week.On the upside, I'd be aware of the $12.00 area as the 50% retracement level comes into play. However, with AG stock above its 2017 peak and the decline from 2016's high a swift price collapse, I'm anticipating resistance won't be any trouble until approximately $13.50 and the 62% level. That's where I'd look to take initial profits.For AG stock to stay on the watch list as a momentum-style breakout candidate, I'd like to see shares remain above $9.25. If this silver stock falters, the entry is off the table and waiting for a much deeper and oversold pullback to form would make sense.Disclosure: Investment accounts under Christopher Tyler's management do not currently own positions in any securities mentioned in this article. The information offered is based upon Christopher Tyler's observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only; the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. For additional options-based strategies and related musings, follow Chris on Twitter @Options_CAT and StockTwits. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Stocks to Buy With Over 20% Upside From Current Levels * The 10 Best Stocks to Invest in for August * 6 Upcoming IPOs for August The post 3 Silver Stocks to Buy: WPM, AG and PAAS appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Frank Holmes, money manager, CEO of US Global and editor of Frank Talk, selected Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) as his top investment idea for 2019. The stock has since risen 24%. Here's his latest update on this gold royalty streaming company.

Panoro Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PML, Lima: PML, Frankfurt: PZM) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Panoro Trading (Cayman) Ltd. (“Panoro” or the “Company”) are pleased to announce that they have received the eighth Early Deposit payment of US$750,000 as part of the Precious Metals Purchase Agreement (the “Cotabambas Early Deposit Agreement”) with Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd. (“WPMI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (WPM) (WPM), in respect of the Cotabambas project located in Peru. The principal terms of the Cotabambas Early Deposit Agreement are as described in the Company’s press release on March 21, 2016, whereby WPMI will pay Panoro upfront cash payments totalling US$140 million for 25% of the payable gold production and 100% of the payable silver production from the Company’s Cotabambas Project in Peru.